Composite passive armor protection

ABSTRACT

A composite passive armor protection having geometric solids embedded in a matrix, characterized in that it consists of the parallel non-adjacent plates ( 1,2 ), wherein the upper plate ( 2 ) has grooves ( 3 ), in which are resting the geometric solids ( 4 ) embedded in a light alloy matrix ( 5 ), preferably to a level above one half of their total height, while the space between the parallel plates is a layer of light alloy ( 6 )

The invention relates to a composite passive armor protection to safeguard objects from the effect of projectiles and projectile fragments.

As known from the DE1578324 description of armor, the energy-absorbing elements are embedded in a non-metallic matrix. Elements, having the shape of cylindrical bodies, are arranged in layers and placed next to each other or at certain distances. On the other hand, the protective screen to defend against explosion as disclosed in the PL171251 description is made of air-permeable side layers, having the form of precut sheets of metal foil, and of a porous core, placed between these foils, containing the beads or ellipsoids made of the same material as the sheet. Preferably, the sheets of metal foil contain magnesium alloy. A passive armor known from the PL181177 description consists of the main inner protective metal layer and the outer protective layer comprising a number of rectangular, metallic cassettes containing ceramic layers. The spaces between the ceramic layers and the surfaces of the cassette walls are filled with a composition of small ceramic pieces mixed with glue and concrete. The cassettes in an outer protective layer of the armor are removably secured to the main inner protective metal layer by means of various connecting and clamping elements. A safety element used to protect the life and health of the crew of a military vehicle against the explosion of mine under this vehicle known from the PL206571 description consists of a shield having through-holes on its entire surface. The shield is connected by means of the vertical supports with a thin intermediate plate, which, through springs and connected to these springs mounting plates, is attached to the underside of the vehicle floor. Discharge ducts are running from the shield surface.

The composite passive armor protection according to the present invention consists of non-adjacent parallel plates, except that the upper plate has grooves in which the geometric solids embedded in a light alloy matrix are resting, preferably to a level above one half of their total height, and the space between the plates is filled with a layer of light alloy identical with the matrix alloy.

The grooves in the upper plate are made in such a way that their axes coincide with the axes of the geometric solids resting in these grooves. Preferably, the geometric solids are spheres or truncated pyramids with a square base.

The geometric solids are ceramic or metallic solids.

Owing to its specific construction, the composite passive armor protection according to the present invention is resistant to projectile impacts. The protruding part of geometric solids prevents the penetration of AP-type projectiles, projectile fragments, and small arms projectiles. The mere shape and very hard material of the geometric solids cause distortion in the projectile flight path, or ricochet and weakening of the projectile kinetic energy. The layer between the plates, filled with the light alloy matrix material, forms an energy gap limiting crack propagation and resulting in dissipation of the kinetic energy of the projectile. The task of the bottom plate is to completely arrest the projectile, the energy of which was reduced on the layer of the geometric solids resting on the grooved upper plate and in the energy gap. Additionally, the grooves in the upper plate prevent movement of the geometric solids in respect of the plate surface. The light alloy matrix protects the armor against tearing. The composite passive armor protection according to the present invention, the matrix whereof is made of a light alloy, is highly effective in protection against the AP projectiles of up to 12.6 mm. The use of light alloy as a matrix material reduces the armor weight, thereby increasing the mobility of the protected vehicles, reducing fuel consumption and enabling the armor to be used as a means of protection for the aircraft and watercraft.

The composite passive armor protection according to the present invention is shown in a sample embodiment in the accompanying drawings, where

FIG. 1 shows a vertical section of the composite passive armor protection, and

FIG. 2 its schematic representation.

The composite passive armor protection consists of two parallel plates 1 and 2, except that in the grooves 3 in the upper plate 1 are resting balls 4 embedded in the light alloy matrix 5 up to a level of the two-third of their diameter. Between the plates 1 and 2 there is a separating layer 6 made of a light alloy 5, wherein said layer is forming an energy gap. 

1. A composite passive armor protection having geometric solids embedded in a matrix, characterized in that it consists of the parallel non-adjacent plates 1 and 2, wherein the upper plate 2 has grooves 3, in which are resting the geometric solids 4 embedded in a light alloy matrix 5, preferably to a level above one half of their total height, while the space between the parallel plates is a layer of light alloy
 6. 2. The composite passive armor protection of claim 1, wherein the axes of the grooves 3 in the upper plate 1 coincide with the axes of the geometric solids 4 resting in these grooves.
 3. The composite passive armor protection of claim 1, wherein said geometric solids 4 are ceramic solids or metallic solids.
 4. The composite passive armor protection of claim 1, wherein said geometric solids 4 are in the shape of spheres or truncated pyramids with a square base. 